Spring-mattress



UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIoE. y

fr. v. McELwEE, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SPRING-MATTRESS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 7,248, dated `April 2, 1850.

17 10 all whom t mag/.concern Be it known that I, JOI-IN V. MCELWEE., of the city of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and `State of Pennsylvania, have nventeda new and Improved Mode of Constructing the Elastic or Spring Mattress; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference `being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention consists in the construction of the skeleton foundation by which to combine together the springs, to complete a superior spring or elastic-mattress as follows.

It consists of two light frames of hard and well seasoned wood of one and a quarter inches in width and one inch in thickness. Mortised and tenoned together at the corners bound with an iron band, which may be fitted to any bed post, as represented in the accompanying drawing, Figures 1 and 2, A `P C and D. The outside row (G F ig. 2) of springs are connected to the frame with webbing and tacks, the inner edge of the springs are then fastened to the frame with webbing the body or inner springs (i. e., all the others) are thenset (as the drawing shows) and screwed together transversely with heavy cord, without the necessity of any basis, that is, a wooden box or floor to rest upon. There are four stretchers (F Fig. 2) of springs wire a quarter of an inch thick, attached diagonally and secured to the frame with webbing and` tacks, `and each stretcher connects with the spring cords, and fastened to them, by this means .all the parts, springs stretchers and frames .are strongly drawn togetherthus dispensing with the cumbrous wooden box no-w used in making spring mattresses. An ordinary size mattress requires thirty-two inner springs twelve` inches high and eighteen outer springs six inches high with heavy canvas covering both sides of the mattress secured with nails to the upper side of the frame, and each spring is sewed fast to the canvas-webbing three inches and a half wide is then fastened with tacks on the edge of both frames, upper and lower, which reduces the outside of the frame to live inches, a piece of canvas the size of the mattress required is then stretched upon a frame made for the purpose,` and the quantityof hair required is then laid upon thecanvas and` ticking is then laidon the hair, yand tufted through to the canvas, which makes oneside of the mattress-the other side is made in the same way-thepad is then taken from 'the frame and the canvas 1s stretched over the springs and made secure to the skeleton frame with tacks, leaving the tufting soft on top, the other side is put on in the same way, a. border of ticking eight inches wide around the whole, is then bound on the top and bottom of the ticking of the mattress making both sides of mattress the same. One and a half inches thickness of hair on the topand bot-tom edges of the `mattress is then laid which makes the border of the mattress eight inches thickwhile the two light frames are but five inches apart making the edge of the mattress clear of the frame and soft on the edge (Fig. 3); the mattress when finished has twelve inches,spring in every part except the outside edge, and the whole outer edge bein filled up with hair, makes it the proper height. Should repairs of the mattress be required it can be done by ripping open the border and removing the hair quilt all in a single piece which exposes to view the whole internal part of the mattress. yI int-end to`include in this way the making of sofas, divans, Ottomans and chairs.

The advantage or improvement of my way of making spring mattresses, &c., is in the first place as Vto the weight being not more than half as great-no wooden slats are used, but in place thereof a greater number of springs are substituted which makes it more elastic and which prevents the rising of one part of the mattress, when the other is `pressed on. There is no heavy box or wooden foundation as required by those now manufactured. Both sides of the mattress can be used, which is not so with those now made only one side of which can be used. My mattress being closed all around vermin cannot get into any part, which those as now made are subject to; and as my improvement not being air tight admits of a circulation`of air which is drawn in and expelled as it is used. The mattress can be used either on slats or a sacking bottom while all the spring mattresses now made require a bedstead to be expressly made or not increasethe cost of making them (mab.

tresses) and can be made as cheap as any others now patented or 1n use.

What I claim as my invention or impro-vement and desire to secure by Letters Patent is, k

l. So constructing a spring mattress that the springs of the same shall project outwards beyond the light frame Work Which supports them in their places, so that the Whole upper and under surface Will as the edges of the mattress shall present a yield ing surface to the touch by means of the projecting springs.

2. I also claim the manner of constructing thehair quilted upper and under coverings of the springs as set forth. That is to say, the hair covering which rests on or against the springs is first made separately like a quilted bed spread and then drawn over the springs by which the mattress though long used preserves a uniform, and elastic surface.

J. V. MGELWEE.

Witnesses:

JAMES PAGE, v E. FoRREsT KOEHLER. 

